A Sacramento music landmark that has endured Prohibition, multiple moves, and decades of change is now confronting a new challenge: city code enforcement.The owner of the Torch Club, a longtime live music venue at 15th and I streets, said the pressure to comply with city rules — and the fines that come with falling short — is threatening the business’s future.“It’s just like a nugget in this town,” patron Riley Unverferth said. “And there are such strong supporters of this place.”For decades, the Torch Club has been a fixture in Sacramento’s live music scene. Unverferth said he hopes “the Torch Club goes around for a hundred years.”Owner Marina Texeira said she is trying to keep the venue open as it addresses code violations tied to its entertainment operations.“We’re just trying to keep it moving and, you know, doing the best we can,” Texeira said.Texeira said the club has been dealing with code violations for the past several weeks and continues to be fined until it returns to compliance.“We have kind of been dealing for the last few weeks with some code violations,” Texeira said. “And until we’re in compliance, they’re continuing to fine us.”In a statement, the city of Sacramento said one of the requirements tied to the club’s entertainment permit is having approved security guards in place anytime entertainment is provided. The city said establishments offering entertainment under Sacramento city code must have an entertainment permit and comply with both city rules and state requirements for security guards.Texeira acknowledged that a permit allowing in-house security had lapsed.“It was an oversight on my part on a certain permit,” Texeira said. “It allows me to have in-house security. And I let that lapse. Not intentionally. It was just an oversight. I am a small business owner. I kind of do all the things, and I missed it, and I own that.”Still, she said the repeated fines are making it harder to stay afloat while she works through the process of getting back into compliance.“The process could take like two months,” Texeira said. “So my concern was they’re going to come every time we have music and fine me, which would just decimate me.”Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said the Torch Club contacted his office earlier this week, and a meeting is being arranged between city staff and the venue’s ownership.“We’re pulling a meeting together tomorrow with City Code, the entertainment division, and then the ownership of the Torch to have a fuller discussion about what’s working, what’s not, and what we can do differently,” Pluckebaum said.Pluckebaum said small businesses, especially entertainment venues, are already under pressure, and the city should look for ways to reduce burdens where possible.“We don’t have many small venues like this left,” Pluckebaum said. “And we want to make sure that these are vibrant places for people to go and experience arts and culture and have a good time while they’re doing it. We want to make sure that the businesses have every opportunity to be successful and profitable and thrive.”In a statement to KCRA, the city said it is working with the Torch Club to resolve the compliance issues and emphasized that safety remains the priority.“The city recognizes that the Torch Club plays an important role in Sacramento’s live music scene, but it is important for all businesses in Sacramento to operate safely,” the statement said.Texeira said she hopes the meeting leads to a solution that allows the club to continue operating without the threat of mounting fines.“They want a lively downtown that’s safe,” Texeira said. “And I totally get that. We are safe, and we are lively. So I would just like to work together so we can come to some agreement.”Texeira did not provide a total dollar amount for the fines, but said she hopes the upcoming meeting with city officials will help keep the music playing.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A Sacramento music landmark that has endured Prohibition, multiple moves, and decades of change is now confronting a new challenge: city code enforcement.
The owner of the Torch Club, a longtime live music venue at 15th and I streets, said the pressure to comply with city rules — and the fines that come with falling short — is threatening the business’s future.
“It’s just like a nugget in this town,” patron Riley Unverferth said. “And there are such strong supporters of this place.”
For decades, the Torch Club has been a fixture in Sacramento’s live music scene. Unverferth said he hopes “the Torch Club goes around for a hundred years.”
Owner Marina Texeira said she is trying to keep the venue open as it addresses code violations tied to its entertainment operations.
“We’re just trying to keep it moving and, you know, doing the best we can,” Texeira said.
Texeira said the club has been dealing with code violations for the past several weeks and continues to be fined until it returns to compliance.
“We have kind of been dealing for the last few weeks with some code violations,” Texeira said. “And until we’re in compliance, they’re continuing to fine us.”
In a statement, the city of Sacramento said one of the requirements tied to the club’s entertainment permit is having approved security guards in place anytime entertainment is provided. The city said establishments offering entertainment under Sacramento city code must have an entertainment permit and comply with both city rules and state requirements for security guards.
Texeira acknowledged that a permit allowing in-house security had lapsed.
“It was an oversight on my part on a certain permit,” Texeira said. “It allows me to have in-house security. And I let that lapse. Not intentionally. It was just an oversight. I am a small business owner. I kind of do all the things, and I missed it, and I own that.”
Still, she said the repeated fines are making it harder to stay afloat while she works through the process of getting back into compliance.
“The process could take like two months,” Texeira said. “So my concern was they’re going to come every time we have music and fine me, which would just decimate me.”
Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said the Torch Club contacted his office earlier this week, and a meeting is being arranged between city staff and the venue’s ownership.
“We’re pulling a meeting together tomorrow with City Code, the entertainment division, and then the ownership of the Torch to have a fuller discussion about what’s working, what’s not, and what we can do differently,” Pluckebaum said.
Pluckebaum said small businesses, especially entertainment venues, are already under pressure, and the city should look for ways to reduce burdens where possible.
“We don’t have many small venues like this left,” Pluckebaum said. “And we want to make sure that these are vibrant places for people to go and experience arts and culture and have a good time while they’re doing it. We want to make sure that the businesses have every opportunity to be successful and profitable and thrive.”
In a statement to KCRA, the city said it is working with the Torch Club to resolve the compliance issues and emphasized that safety remains the priority.
“The city recognizes that the Torch Club plays an important role in Sacramento’s live music scene, but it is important for all businesses in Sacramento to operate safely,” the statement said.
Texeira said she hopes the meeting leads to a solution that allows the club to continue operating without the threat of mounting fines.
“They want a lively downtown that’s safe,” Texeira said. “And I totally get that. We are safe, and we are lively. So I would just like to work together so we can come to some agreement.”
Texeira did not provide a total dollar amount for the fines, but said she hopes the upcoming meeting with city officials will help keep the music playing.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel